I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church.
This is a repeat from the notes that I sent out last week. Just testing this. I will post the notes from last Saturday’s session later.
19-JUL-08 at the home of Rev Bill & Florence Burns 7:00pm
Our Introductory Session
We broke into small groups and each discussed:
1.) How did you become a practicing Christian?
How did you come to this church, of all the churches on planet earth?
Why have you stuck around?
2.) If you had one wish for our church what would it be?
If you had one wish for the larger community in which our church is located, what would it be?
We gathered together again and compared thoughts, sharing those with the rest of the group.
Scripture Foundation Acts 2:42-47 & 3:1-10
Fellowship of the Believers:
Comments:
They sold their possessions and shared them with others. They had prayer together , fellowship together. Comments – we should give a hand-up – not a hand down. Then we will be on the same level as those we are trying to help. In all, we should give credit to Jesus.
Suggestions – Need an evangelism committee at our church and get training for them – these could be lay persons. In the spirit amazing things come together.
Six vital choices
Choosing life over death
Choosing community over isolation
Choosing fun over drudgery
Choosing bold over mild
Choosing frontier over fortress
Choosing now rather than later
These are the themes from the six chapters ahead of us in the book.
We discussed apostolic leaders and the characteristics that identify apostolic leaders.
The questions were asked. Do you see signs of any of these characteristics in our church? Which characteristic do you wish was more descriptive of our church? How might that change?
All study participants contributed to the closing prayer by listing an item or two prayer topics. We wrote them down and them passed the sheets around and each participant read some of the prayer lists.
·Desire to list the things that our church does well and develop a plan to do them better.
·Prayer for God to show us what His plan for our lives are.
·Pray for guidance and received strength to find ways to better serve the needs of God’s people in the community – youth and elderly alike in our church.
·Desire for senior rehabilitation projects
·Be filled and overflowing with God’s spirit
·Be open and welcoming
·United in action and excited about ministry
·Listen to God as we study together
·Each can find a way to serve
·Nurture children
·Clarify problems and find solutions for them
·Faith, Gratitude, Loving thy neighbor need to be ACTION words
Next gathering will be on 26-JUL-08 at 7:00pm
Jack & Alyce Downer’s home
5906 Woodridge Park
home phone 210-463-9600
Jack’s cell 210-563-1273
Alyce’s cell 210-563-1272
Study – Choosing Life Over Death
Read pp. 27-36
Where do I really get to touch the magic and sparkle of LIFE?
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Joshua 24:14-15
Matthew 22:34-40
John 13:31-35
